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31 Ureciott* Qzxvzl 



BY 

Henry Sylvester Bedaine 
of illinois 




Commemorating 

The Events op Saturday, July Fifth 

Anno Domini Nineteen Two 

and Other Pleasant 

Impressions 



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THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Tvvo Copies Reosivfd 

rtoPVRrOHT ENTPY 

CLASS ft^XXc. No 

H- t> <j \* f 
COPY 3, 



Copyright, 1902 

BY 

Henry Sylvester Bedaine 



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148 






TO THAT 

PRECIOUS JEWEL 

THIS 

TOKEN OF ESTEEM 

IS LOVINGLY 

DEDICATED 



Preface * Prelude 



P R E C 1 O XJ S J EWE L 

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DHIS work has been prepared for the exclu- 
sive use of one whose life, overflowing 

with the sublime graces of ideal loveliness, has 
suggested its title. 

But the radiance of these graces transcends 
the sparkle of the most Precious Jewel ; is 
more tender than the light of evening's silver 
stars; is sweeter than the fairest flower that 
sheds its fragrance in valley or on hillside. 

Is it strange that the living Jewel, the pearl, 
should be the birthstone of one so Precious ? 

May this beautiful life, this Precious Jewel, 
whose passing touch has proved an enduring 
inspiration, long be preserved, a blessing to every 
one with whom it comes in contact. 

Truly, 

" It is these that are worth the praises of earth, 
For we find them but once in a while " 

The Author. 

Spring-field, Illinois, 

August 5th, 1902. 



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PRECIOUS J i: W IE L 

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'VE traveled o'er this mundane sphere, 
north, south and east and west; 
Among the charming scenes of earth, I've 

viewed some of the best — 
On inland seas, whose waves of green are 

capped with grains of gold, 
Or 'neath Niagara's mighty flood — a wonder 

to behold. 



I've been in old Missouri, where you always 

must "show me" 
And where boys "carry" girls to church, in 

sunny Tennessee ; 
But of all trips ever taken — and some were 

grand ones, too, — 
The best of my experience permit me to 

review. 



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Cbe Crawlers tale 



A PRECIOUS J E, W E, L 

♦ ♦ ♦ 



DWAS 'way up in "My Michigan/' in 
., Clinton county, near 

The rippling brook called Lookingglass because 

it is so clear, 
That a gentle little pony in the shafts once 

looked so neat, 
And, neighing, offered us a ride if we would 
take a seat. 



When thus Miss Mary and myself were started 

on our way, 
It gave me pleasure to remark, " 'Twill be a 

lovely day." 
As it had rained for weeks and weeks, till the 

beet fields wouldn't drain, 
Miss Mary smiled as she replied, "'Twill — 

if it doesn't rain." 



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PRECIOUS JEWEL 

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We met a good old lover when we'd passed the 
bridge a bit. 

He bowed and spoke in charming tones, 
"It's a nice day, isn't it?" 

As I had been forewarned I held a quite atten- 
tive ear, 

And heard a softer voice reply, (v) "It always 
is, ray dear." 



No matter though the skies be black, with 

tempests all about, 
And sugar beets their feet get wet, till the 

sugar all soaks out ; 
Though thunders roll and torrents fall from 

darkening clouds above, 
"The world is full of beauty when the heart is 

full of love." 



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A PRECIOUS JEWEL 

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Then, as we passed along the road, we spoke 

of Sunday school, 
And thought it paid good girls and boys to 

mind the Golden Rule. 
We found the next day's lesson based upon 

"The Manna Sent/' 
Then talked about the Epworth League, with 

Mary — President. 



We thought the League a worthy move, designed 
to do much good 

By giving useful work to do and richest mental 
food; 

In fact, discussed most everything true, laud- 
able and right, — 

And how high the neighbors' chickens perchance 
might roost that night. 



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A PRECIOUS j E W E I 

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Now, Mary was a schoolma'am, and, ^twas said, 

a good one, too, 
So T asked her how she managed the unwieldy 

to subdue. 
[The other teachers whip with sticks, and 

frown, and scold, and fret, 
Then fail.] Said she, "I rule with love; this 

secret don't forget." 



This love must be an awful thing ; — it terrorizes 

boys; 
Makes little girls afraid to talk or cause the 

slightest noise; 
Prompts older folks to quarrel sometimes — 

at least, they tell me so — 
Don't quote me as authority; I do not claim 

to know. 



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A P R K C 1 O U 8 J E W E L, 

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We came upon a farmer who was raking up 

his hay. 
I asked him how Miss Mary ruled her school 

in such a way. 
As his visage filled with sunshine, he exclaimed, 

"I tell ye, sir, — 
Precious Jewel — they just couldn't — couldn't 

help a lovin her!" 



For fully two long seconds then I couldn^t speak 

a word, 
So Mary introduced a song — a song Fd never 

heard. 
The anthem was, "My Michigan," and, well, 

the least to say, 
"Banks of the Wabash" lost its charms with 

"Good Bye, Dolly Gray." 



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PRECIOUS J E, WEL 

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My cousin's home we reached ere long, Rosalie 

Hodges' place; 
For eighteen circuits 'round the sun,. I had not 

seen that face; 
But that glad smile of sweetness was recalled 

from bygone years — 
Years checkered well with good and ill, with 

gladness and with tears. 



Oh, when we sever earthly sight, let parting 

give us pain ! 
Who knows the times or seasons till our hands 

shall clasp again? 
Will fleeting human nature, dipped in life's 

unceasing stream, 
Sink 'neath the sea of aeons ere we catch 

another gleam ? 



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PRECIOUS J E W E, t. 

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In Mr. and Mrs. Hodges' home were two cute 

little bovs. 
Whose bright and witty sayings added mirth 

to all its joys. 
I took the younger on my knees, and asked 

whom he loved best — 
Mary or me — and his reply accepted as a 

jest. 



In this fair home five hours were spent — no 

better hours could be — 
And just as we were taking leave, Miss Mary 

said to me: (?) 
"How handy if you Springfield boys could 

harness up a mule ! " 
When I was pleased to show her I had studied 

in that school. 



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PRECIOUS JEW E, L, 

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And when we passed the cherry trees, say, did 

we take a one? 
We didn't chop with hatchets like young 

Georgie Washington, 
Or Carrie Nation, latter-day; but, lest the truth 

be blurred, 
Don't ask about the ripened fruit, and we'll 

not sav a word. - 



We made the lilies bow their heads while we 

were passing by; 
But the buggy wouldn't tip at all with wheels 

toward the sky. 
We plucked the elder blossoms till the shrubs, 

I know, felt vexed; 
The wild strawberries wondered, too, what could 

be coming next. 



precious jewel 

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We visited a mansion on a hill just to the 

right; 
But couldn't wait for supper on that lovely 

summer night, 
Though we liked those dear young people, who 

insisted that we stav, 
For other cousins we must see, and that all in 

one day. 



When we had driven half a mile, upon this 
thought we "hit:" 

Perhaps we'd better turn around and go back 
to DeWitt. 

DeWitt is just a lovely place — tall, waving, 
shady trees, 

Inviting to the traveler as they catch the even- 
ing breeze. 



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PRECIOUS JEWEL 

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While resting on the public square, the people 

all came down 
And wondered what great personages were 

visiting their town. 
We called upon the hardware store ; we saw the 

train rush through, 
And Mary greeted "grandpa," 'cause her 

"grandpa" loved her, too. 



We turned our faces homeward soon; the town 

was lost from sight; 
I knew her mamma wouldn't scold for being 

out that night — 
Her escort was so very good (bold vanity 

avows) — 
Not that; — sweet mothers gentle heart no 

unkind word allows. 



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PRE.CIO.V8 JEWEL 

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The, silver stars with tender eyes peered 

through ethereal blue; 
Earth donned the beauties of the night when 

kissed by twilight dew, 
And all was silence, rest and peace — each 

weary toiler slept, 
Save one who waited for her own, and loving 

vigil kept. 



We reached the home — sweet home — at last, 

where greetings were so kind 
It seemed like painting roses since the trip we 

have in mind. 
Perhaps the story better close; — if prince or 

king should see 
The things recorded heretofore, he well might 

envy me. 



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Epilogue 



Raping tfye glory 

of <0o6: anb 

t^er ligtjt mas like 

unto a stone most 



Qn5 tfyey s^all be 

IHine, * * * * * 

in tfyat bay wfyen 

3 make up my 




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kffiHEN the Master comes for jewels bright, 

lAJI to claim them for His own, 

If chosen to select the best from the richest 

T have known, 
I might bring them by the hundred to His feet 

and lay them down, 
But Fd set this Precious Jewel in the center 

of His crown. 



Though angels speak of jasper walls with 
chalcedony rare; 

With sapphire, topaz, emerald, in rich pro- 
fusion there ; 

The seventh stone a chrysolyte; the eighth 
foundation, beryl — 

The City's gates through which we'll pass arc 
made of living Pearl. 



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PRECIOUS JEWEL 

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Cast down your gold of transient worth, in 

which your pride may trust; 
Resolve your carbon diamonds to their first 

primeval dust — 
Know thou, mankind, sweet character, 

the one unfailing prize; 
The only gem you'll carry hence to set in 

vonder skies. 



If you wish a glad example of rare sweetness, 

truth and grace, 
Exalted wings of cherubims spread o'er its 

holy place, 
With kindness, love and mercy, pure as dew 

upon the flower, 
This Precious Jewel you should see on any 

day or hour. 



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